Last Tuesday the City Council got a presentation on RFP’s vs. Negotiated Sale. The topic came up because a negotiated sale is what the city is apparently still in the process of negotiating with the developer, Christensen, for the proposed development behind 8th and Railroad. I find this a little alarming. Back in June of last year the council got a presentation on the development. The developer told the council then that they planned to break ground in the Fall of last year or Spring of this year, now the planning department says it is is still in the ‘negotiating stage’. How can you be in the negotiating stage when the Planning Commission approved the TIF last July? Now there was a statement made by the proposed developer in June when they made their initial presentation; they said they would coordinate their build out with how fast the properties at the Steel District and more specifically Cherapa II would lease out. One wonders if those properties are having trouble being leased, and coincidentally slowing investment in the Christensen development? But we know how these games are being played in town. Years ago a franchise motorcycle repair shop tried to come to town and a major competitor with their wrench in city government convinced banks and other investors to back away from this franchise essentially shutting them down before the doors even opened. Funny how a TIF gets approved before a land purchase is even signed. We got some real clowns running the city these days . . .
SPEAKING OF A CIRCUS
There has been a lot of talk lately between constituents about how light and meaningless the city council agenda has been lately. The story is the lame duck mayor is telling council no new policy initiatives will be allowed on the agenda. I told someone, “The only reason you would shut down the only function of your policy body is because you have someone bigger then you riding your ass.” More to come on this.
UPDATE: Mike Zitterich sent me this;
I wanted to see how many ordinances and resolutions that get posted to the City Council Agenda by the mayor or city councilors, and in 2024, here is what I came up with:
Out of 354 Ordinances/Resolutions sponsored from January 1, 2024 to December 30, 2024 —
Mayor………………………….183……52%……………………5.1 Per meeting
Private Applicants…………..97……27%……………………2.7 Per meeting
City Councilors………………74……21%……………………2.1 Per meeting
36 Meetings in 2024
HIGH:
Mayor sponsored 13 total on August 13, 2024
City Council sponsored 9 twice on May 14th and May 7th of 2024
Private Applicants sponsored 8 total 3 times during the 2024 season.
“… you have someone bigger then you riding your ass.”
Looking forward to your “more to come” on this.
But I thought that guy died back in January.
The only other “someone” who comes to mind isn’t very big, at all. Trollfully diminuitive, actually.
Mayor Tentative is on his way out. Nothing happened during his tenure so why start something. This is a good time for the council to invoke charter change. How about a reality show for them like for Homeland Security? Perhaps a 50 million dollar jet taking them around the globe learning how local government should work. Find places with cornhole competition where they can function because there’s no authoritarian control. Maybe have ladies night for cities with female mayors. Still no progress but lots of frequent flyer miles?
Maybe it’s just me, but an apartment complex and a railroad just don’t sound pleasing to me….
“I think Jake moving forward with this project is such a testament to the strength of the market, on top of historical investment being made north and south of him,” said Jeff Eckhoff, director of planning and development services for the city of Sioux Falls. “The capacity is still there.”
JEckhoff, Wrong Again!
The apartments wouldn’t start until a good portion of the lofts currently for lease downtown are absorbed, he said.
“I committed to (Cherapa developer) Jeff (Scherschligt) that we wouldn’t start putting units on the market until he reaches stabilization and I fully expect he will be fully stabilized before we begin putting units on the market,” Christensen said.
F’n unbelievable that Sioux Falls taxpayers are expected to support with TIF transfers of wealth this sort of naked collusion among our community’s “visionary risk takers”.